AMAZING SCENES IN BANGKOK AS RED SHIRT PROTESTORS RECLAIM PEOPLE TV CHANNEL
April 10th 2010 00:46
The time line below of Bangkok Post updates tells it all: the swift government reversal as red shirt protestors on Friday determinedly stormed the Thaicom centre to demand the reconnection of People TV channel (PTV) that had previously been shut down by the government.
The afternoon started with the government declaring that protestors would not be allowed to seize the Thaicom centre.
Then after a dramatic three hours the government capitulated and People TV was back on air at 5.47.
Here is a précis of how the Bangkok Post reported the incident online in ‘real time’:
1.28 Headline: Red-shirts inside Thaicom, Nonthaburi
The red-shirts are now gathering inside the grounds of the Thaicom facility in Nonthaburi, but not trying to break into the buildings.
They have erected a speaking platform and are addressing supporters. The leaders insist that they would not break into the buildings.
2.35 Headline: Govt won’t allow seizure of Thaicom
Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Centre for Public Administration in Emergency Situations Suthep Thaugsuban said the government will definitely not allow the red-shirts to occupy the Thaicom satellite station.
Mr Suthep was confident that the deployed police and military force were capable of protecting the Thaicom station.
3.02 Headline: Water cannon, tear gas used on reds
Security forces used water cannon and tear gas against red-shirt protesters who surrounded Thaicom station.
The move came after a large number of protesters moved from rally sites and mobilise to the station in an attempt to get the red-shirts' People Channel back on air.
3.25 Headline: Red-shirts capture Thaicom compound
A large number of red shirts have occupied some of the grounds of the Thaicom satellite station after breaking through a cordon of soldiers who tried in vain to stop them with water cannons and tear gas, according to television reports.
The red-shirts, led by Jatuporn Prompan, want the signal of the People Channel to be re-connected after being successfully blocked by the government. They managed to push through the front gate of the outer fence into the station rounds about 2.20pm.
Once they got inside, the soldiers first tried to stop them with water cannons and later threw tear gas canisters into the mob.
However, the red shirts were able to secure a base inside the compound and brought in a large truck with sound equipment. The soldiers were forced back.
3.28 Headline: Red threat to seize Nonthaburi city hall
If the government does not unblock the People TV Channel signal this afternoon, the red-shirts will surround Nonthaburi provincial hall, red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong said on Friday.
He was speaking at the mobile rally stage in front of the Thaicom building.
4.12 Headline: Reds set deadline for PTV resumption
The red-shirts have completely taken control of the compound of the Thaicom station and were calling on officials to come out for talks to put People Channel) back on the air, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader Nathawut Saikua said in a speech to his colleagues after the seizure of the grounds.
He said two or three soldiers were injured in a brief clash with the red-shirts and had been admitted to a hospital.
Mr Nathawut demanded the government withdraw soldiers and police from inside the station and unblock the PTV signal so that it could resume broadcasting by 4pm.
If the demand was met, the red-shirts would return to their rally sites.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the government would not do as demanded by the UDD.
4.18 Headline: 13 injured at Thaicom station
Thirteen people were injured when red-shirts broke through security lines into the Thaicom station grounds on Friday, according to the Public Health Ministry's emergency unit.
Of the 13, three were security personnel and 10 others were protesters.
5.20 Headline: Govt agrees to restore PTV
The negotiations between Pol Lt Gen Krisada Pankongchuen and UDD leaders lead to agreement that Thaicom would reconnect the PTV signal within one hour by using a direct mobile unit.
Once the PTV signal is connected, the UDD leaders promised to withdraw their convoy.
5.34 Headline: Thaicom yields to UDD demand
The People Channel, the mouthpiece of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, has resumed its broadcast after talks between UDD leaders and Thaicom executives, according to television reports.
Yosvaris Chuklom, better known as comedian Jeng Dokjik, a UDD leader wanted under an arrest warrant, announced on the stage on the top of a truck that the Thaicom executives had yielded to the demand and that PTV would resume its broadcast soon.
The red shirts had moved back to their rally sites, the reports said.
5.35 Headline: Police, Red Shirts briefly skirmishThe Red Shirts at Rajprasong area confronted the police in front of Monks Hospital. There was a brief skirmish and the police in riot gears retreated into the National Police Office's compound nearby to avoid untoward incident.
5.47 Headline: UDD, soldiers retreat from ThaicomEven though PTV is not yet back on air, the red-shirt leaders and soldiers are now retreating from Thaicom compound at Lat Lum Kaeo.
UDD leader Natthawut Saikua thanked the soldiers for refraining from using force against the red-shirts and urged them to return to the barracks and not be a tool of the government.
Updated: PTV is now back online via Thaicom.
6.06 Headline: 21 injured during Thaicom clash Saengchai Thirapakorn, director of Lat Lum Kaew hospital, Pathum Thani revealed that 15 patients were treated at the hospital: 11 red shirts, 3 soldiers and 1 policeman from the clash at Thaicom facility.
6.06 Headline: Injury report from Thaicom clash
Fifteen people were treated at Lat Lum Kaeo hospital, Pathum Thani, after the clash at the Thaicom satellite station - 11 red-shirts, three soldiers and one policeman, hospital director Saengchai Thirapakorn said.
The afternoon started with the government declaring that protestors would not be allowed to seize the Thaicom centre.
Then after a dramatic three hours the government capitulated and People TV was back on air at 5.47.
Here is a précis of how the Bangkok Post reported the incident online in ‘real time’:
The red-shirts are now gathering inside the grounds of the Thaicom facility in Nonthaburi, but not trying to break into the buildings.
They have erected a speaking platform and are addressing supporters. The leaders insist that they would not break into the buildings.
2.35 Headline: Govt won’t allow seizure of Thaicom
Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Centre for Public Administration in Emergency Situations Suthep Thaugsuban said the government will definitely not allow the red-shirts to occupy the Thaicom satellite station.
Mr Suthep was confident that the deployed police and military force were capable of protecting the Thaicom station.
3.02 Headline: Water cannon, tear gas used on reds
Security forces used water cannon and tear gas against red-shirt protesters who surrounded Thaicom station.
The move came after a large number of protesters moved from rally sites and mobilise to the station in an attempt to get the red-shirts' People Channel back on air.
3.25 Headline: Red-shirts capture Thaicom compound
A large number of red shirts have occupied some of the grounds of the Thaicom satellite station after breaking through a cordon of soldiers who tried in vain to stop them with water cannons and tear gas, according to television reports.
Once they got inside, the soldiers first tried to stop them with water cannons and later threw tear gas canisters into the mob.
However, the red shirts were able to secure a base inside the compound and brought in a large truck with sound equipment. The soldiers were forced back.
3.28 Headline: Red threat to seize Nonthaburi city hall
If the government does not unblock the People TV Channel signal this afternoon, the red-shirts will surround Nonthaburi provincial hall, red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong said on Friday.
He was speaking at the mobile rally stage in front of the Thaicom building.
4.12 Headline: Reds set deadline for PTV resumption
The red-shirts have completely taken control of the compound of the Thaicom station and were calling on officials to come out for talks to put People Channel) back on the air, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader Nathawut Saikua said in a speech to his colleagues after the seizure of the grounds.
He said two or three soldiers were injured in a brief clash with the red-shirts and had been admitted to a hospital.
Mr Nathawut demanded the government withdraw soldiers and police from inside the station and unblock the PTV signal so that it could resume broadcasting by 4pm.
If the demand was met, the red-shirts would return to their rally sites.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the government would not do as demanded by the UDD.
4.18 Headline: 13 injured at Thaicom station
Thirteen people were injured when red-shirts broke through security lines into the Thaicom station grounds on Friday, according to the Public Health Ministry's emergency unit.
Of the 13, three were security personnel and 10 others were protesters.
5.20 Headline: Govt agrees to restore PTV
The negotiations between Pol Lt Gen Krisada Pankongchuen and UDD leaders lead to agreement that Thaicom would reconnect the PTV signal within one hour by using a direct mobile unit.
Once the PTV signal is connected, the UDD leaders promised to withdraw their convoy.
5.34 Headline: Thaicom yields to UDD demand
The People Channel, the mouthpiece of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, has resumed its broadcast after talks between UDD leaders and Thaicom executives, according to television reports.
Yosvaris Chuklom, better known as comedian Jeng Dokjik, a UDD leader wanted under an arrest warrant, announced on the stage on the top of a truck that the Thaicom executives had yielded to the demand and that PTV would resume its broadcast soon.
The red shirts had moved back to their rally sites, the reports said.
5.35 Headline: Police, Red Shirts briefly skirmishThe Red Shirts at Rajprasong area confronted the police in front of Monks Hospital. There was a brief skirmish and the police in riot gears retreated into the National Police Office's compound nearby to avoid untoward incident.
5.47 Headline: UDD, soldiers retreat from ThaicomEven though PTV is not yet back on air, the red-shirt leaders and soldiers are now retreating from Thaicom compound at Lat Lum Kaeo.
UDD leader Natthawut Saikua thanked the soldiers for refraining from using force against the red-shirts and urged them to return to the barracks and not be a tool of the government.
Updated: PTV is now back online via Thaicom.
6.06 Headline: 21 injured during Thaicom clash Saengchai Thirapakorn, director of Lat Lum Kaew hospital, Pathum Thani revealed that 15 patients were treated at the hospital: 11 red shirts, 3 soldiers and 1 policeman from the clash at Thaicom facility.
6.06 Headline: Injury report from Thaicom clash
Fifteen people were treated at Lat Lum Kaeo hospital, Pathum Thani, after the clash at the Thaicom satellite station - 11 red-shirts, three soldiers and one policeman, hospital director Saengchai Thirapakorn said.
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